Down to Egypt
‘Trouble is coming to the rebellious children,’ says the LORD, ‘who take counsel, but not from me; and who cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, so they may add sin to sin.’ Who set off down to Egypt without asking me anything, to take shelter in Pharaoh's strength and hide in Egypt's shadow. So Pharaoh's strength will turn into your shame, and hiding in Egypt's shadow into your humiliation. Because his princes were at Zoan and his messengers reached Hanes, And they were all ashamed over a people who were no use to them — no help and no use, only shame and disgrace. The word about the beasts of the south. Through a land of trouble and hardship, of lion and lioness, of viper and flying serpent, they carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys and their treasures on camels' humps, to a people who'll be no use. The Egyptians will help in vain and to no purpose. So I have cried about this: ‘Their strength is to sit still.’ Now go and write it on a tablet before them and inscribe it in a book, so it's there for the days to come, forever and ever. Because this is a rebellious people, lying children, children who won't listen to the LORD's teaching — Who say to the seers, Don't see, and to the prophets, Don't prophesy the truth to us. Tell us smooth things. Prophesy us illusions. ‘Get out of the way; turn aside from the path. Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.’ So this is what the Holy One of Israel says: ‘Because you despise this word, trust in oppression and perverseness, and rely on them,’ This wrongdoing will be like a break in a high wall, bulging out, ready to go — and it comes down suddenly, in a moment. It smashes like a potter's jar smashed to bits without mercy, so that among the pieces you won't find a shard big enough to carry coals from the hearth or scoop water out of the tank.
Trouble is coming to the stubborn children, declares the Lord, who make a plan that isn't mine and pour out an alliance that isn't from my Spirit, so they can pile sin on sin — who set off down to Egypt without asking me anything, to take shelter in Pharaoh's strength and hide in Egypt's shadow. So Pharaoh's strength will turn into your shame, and hiding in Egypt's shadow into your humiliation. Because his princes were at Zoan and his messengers reached Hanes, and they were all ashamed over a people who were no use to them — no help and no use, only shame and disgrace. The word about the beasts of the south. Through a land of trouble and hardship, of lion and lioness, of adder and flying serpent, they carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys and their treasures on camels' humps, to a people who'll be no use. Egypt's help is worthless and empty. So I've called her Rahab Who Sits Still. Now go and write it on a tablet in front of them and inscribe it in a book, so it's there for the days to come, forever and ever. Because this is a rebellious people, lying children, children who won't listen to the Lord's teaching — who say to the seers, Don't see, and to the prophets, Don't prophesy the truth to us. Tell us smooth things. Prophesy us illusions. Get off the road. Turn aside from the path. Stop putting the Holy One of Israel in front of us. So this is what the Holy One of Israel says: Because you've knocked back this word and leaned on oppression and crookedness and depended on it, this wrongdoing will be like a break in a high wall, bulging out, ready to go — and it comes down suddenly, in a moment. It smashes like a potter's jar smashed to bits without mercy, so that among the pieces you won't find a shard big enough to carry coals from the hearth or scoop water out of the tank.
Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes. They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach. The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them. For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still. Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.
‘Trouble is coming to the rebellious children,’ says the LORD, ‘who take counsel, but not from me; and who cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, so they may add sin to sin.’
Trouble is coming to the stubborn children, declares the Lord, who make a plan that isn't mine and pour out an alliance that isn't from my Spirit, so they can pile sin on sin —
Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
Who set off down to Egypt without asking me anything, to take shelter in Pharaoh's strength and hide in Egypt's shadow.
who set off down to Egypt without asking me anything, to take shelter in Pharaoh's strength and hide in Egypt's shadow.
That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
So Pharaoh's strength will turn into your shame, and hiding in Egypt's shadow into your humiliation.
Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
Because his princes were at Zoan and his messengers reached Hanes,
For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes.
And they were all ashamed over a people who were no use to them — no help and no use, only shame and disgrace.
and they were all ashamed over a people who were no use to them — no help and no use, only shame and disgrace.
They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.
The word about the beasts of the south. Through a land of trouble and hardship, of lion and lioness, of viper and flying serpent, they carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys and their treasures on camels' humps, to a people who'll be no use.
The word about the beasts of the south. Through a land of trouble and hardship, of lion and lioness, of adder and flying serpent, they carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys and their treasures on camels' humps, to a people who'll be no use.
The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.
The Egyptians will help in vain and to no purpose. So I have cried about this: ‘Their strength is to sit still.’
Egypt's help is worthless and empty. So I've called her Rahab Who Sits Still.
For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.
Now go and write it on a tablet before them and inscribe it in a book, so it's there for the days to come, forever and ever.
Now go and write it on a tablet in front of them and inscribe it in a book, so it's there for the days to come, forever and ever.
Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
Because this is a rebellious people, lying children, children who won't listen to the LORD's teaching —
Because this is a rebellious people, lying children, children who won't listen to the Lord's teaching —
That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:
Who say to the seers, Don't see, and to the prophets, Don't prophesy the truth to us. Tell us smooth things. Prophesy us illusions.
who say to the seers, Don't see, and to the prophets, Don't prophesy the truth to us. Tell us smooth things. Prophesy us illusions.
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
‘Get out of the way; turn aside from the path. Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.’
Get off the road. Turn aside from the path. Stop putting the Holy One of Israel in front of us.
Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
So this is what the Holy One of Israel says: ‘Because you despise this word, trust in oppression and perverseness, and rely on them,’
So this is what the Holy One of Israel says: Because you've knocked back this word and leaned on oppression and crookedness and depended on it,
Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:
This wrongdoing will be like a break in a high wall, bulging out, ready to go — and it comes down suddenly, in a moment.
this wrongdoing will be like a break in a high wall, bulging out, ready to go — and it comes down suddenly, in a moment.
Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.
It smashes like a potter's jar smashed to bits without mercy, so that among the pieces you won't find a shard big enough to carry coals from the hearth or scoop water out of the tank.
And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.
Quietness and trust
This is what the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In returning and rest you will be saved; in quietness and confidence will be your strength.’ But you would not. But you said, ‘No, we'll flee on horses’ — so you will flee. And, ‘We'll ride on the swift’ — so those who pursue you will be swift. A thousand of you will run at the threat of one, and at the threat of five you'll all run — until you're left like a flagpole on a mountaintop, like a signal on a hill. So the LORD will wait, so that he may be gracious to you; so he will be exalted, so that he may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of judgment. Blessed are all those who wait for him. People of Zion who live in Jerusalem, you won't cry any more. He'll be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. The moment he hears it, he'll answer you. Though the LORD gives you the bread of hardship and the water of trouble, your teachers won't be pushed into a corner any more — your eyes will see your teachers. Your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or to the left. Then you'll count as filthy the silver plating on your idols and the gold covering on your images. You'll throw them out like a used rag and say to them: Get out.
Because this is what the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, says: In turning back and resting is your salvation. In quietness and trust is your strength — and you wouldn't have it. You said: No, we'll ride off on horses. So you'll ride off, all right. You said: We'll ride fast ones. So the ones chasing you will be faster. A thousand of you will run at the threat of one, and at the threat of five you'll all run — until you're left like a flagpole on a mountaintop, like a signal on a hill. So the Lord waits, wanting to be gracious to you. He'll lift himself up to show you mercy, because the Lord is a God of justice. Good on everyone who waits for him. People of Zion who live in Jerusalem, you won't cry any more. He'll be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. The moment he hears it, he'll answer you. Though the Lord gives you the bread of hardship and the water of trouble, your teachers won't be pushed into a corner any more — your eyes will see your teachers. And your ears will hear a word behind you saying: This is the way, walk in it — when you turn to the right and when you turn to the left. Then you'll count as filthy the silver plating on your idols and the gold covering on your images. You'll throw them out like a used rag and say to them: Get out.
For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill. And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.
This is what the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In returning and rest you will be saved; in quietness and confidence will be your strength.’ But you would not.
Because this is what the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, says: In turning back and resting is your salvation. In quietness and trust is your strength — and you wouldn't have it.
For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.
But you said, ‘No, we'll flee on horses’ — so you will flee. And, ‘We'll ride on the swift’ — so those who pursue you will be swift.
You said: No, we'll ride off on horses. So you'll ride off, all right. You said: We'll ride fast ones. So the ones chasing you will be faster.
But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.
A thousand of you will run at the threat of one, and at the threat of five you'll all run — until you're left like a flagpole on a mountaintop, like a signal on a hill.
One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.
So the LORD will wait, so that he may be gracious to you; so he will be exalted, so that he may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of judgment. Blessed are all those who wait for him.
So the Lord waits, wanting to be gracious to you. He'll lift himself up to show you mercy, because the Lord is a God of justice. Good on everyone who waits for him.
And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
People of Zion who live in Jerusalem, you won't cry any more. He'll be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. The moment he hears it, he'll answer you.
For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.
Though the LORD gives you the bread of hardship and the water of trouble, your teachers won't be pushed into a corner any more — your eyes will see your teachers.
Though the Lord gives you the bread of hardship and the water of trouble, your teachers won't be pushed into a corner any more — your eyes will see your teachers.
And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:
Your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or to the left.
And your ears will hear a word behind you saying: This is the way, walk in it — when you turn to the right and when you turn to the left.
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
Then you'll count as filthy the silver plating on your idols and the gold covering on your images. You'll throw them out like a used rag and say to them: Get out.
Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.
The Lord's own arm
Then he'll give rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the bread from the crop of the land will be rich and plentiful. On that day your cattle will graze in wide pastures. The oxen and the young donkeys that work the ground will eat seasoned fodder, winnowed with shovel and fork. And on every high mountain and every high hill there'll be streams running with water, on the day of the great slaughter when the towers fall. And the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times over, like the light of seven days, on the day the LORD binds up his people's fracture and heals the wound he struck. Look: the name of the LORD comes from far off, burning with his anger, heavy with smoke. His lips are full of fury and his tongue is a devouring fire. His breath is like a river in flood, rising up to the neck, to sift the nations in the sieve of destruction, and a bridle in the jaws of the peoples that leads them astray. You'll have a song like the night when a festival is kept, and gladness in your heart like a man walking to the sound of the pipe to go to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel. And the LORD will make his glorious voice heard and show his arm coming down, in the fury of his anger and the flame of a devouring fire, with cloudburst and storm and hailstones. Because at the voice of the LORD the Assyrian will be broken — he'll be struck with the rod. And every stroke of the staff of punishment the LORD lays on him will be to the sound of tambourines and harps, and he'll fight them with the swing of his arm. Because Topheth was set up long ago — yes, it's been made ready for the king. He's made its fire pit deep and wide, with fire and much wood, and the breath of the LORD like a river of burning sulphur setting it alight.
Then he'll give rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the bread from the crop of the land will be rich and plentiful. On that day your cattle will graze in wide pastures. The oxen and the young donkeys that work the ground will eat seasoned fodder, winnowed with shovel and fork. And on every high mountain and every high hill there'll be streams running with water, on the day of the great slaughter when the towers fall. And the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times over, like the light of seven days, on the day the Lord binds up his people's fracture and heals the wound he struck. Look — the name of the Lord comes from far off, burning with his anger, heavy with smoke. His lips are full of fury and his tongue is a devouring fire. His breath is like a river in flood, rising up to the neck, to sift the nations in the sieve of destruction, and a bridle in the jaws of the peoples that leads them astray. You'll have a song like the night when a festival is kept, and gladness in your heart like a man walking to the sound of the pipe to go to the mountain of the Lord, to the Rock of Israel. And the Lord will make his glorious voice heard and show his arm coming down, in the fury of his anger and the flame of a devouring fire, with cloudburst and storm and hailstones. Because at the voice of the Lord the Assyrian will be broken — he'll be struck with the rod. And every stroke of the staff of punishment the Lord lays on him will be to the sound of tambourines and harps, and he'll fight them with the swing of his arm. Because Topheth was set up long ago — yes, it's been made ready for the king. He's made its fire pit deep and wide, with fire and plenty of wood, and the breath of the Lord like a river of burning sulphur setting it alight.
Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures. The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan. And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound. Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire: And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err. Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel. And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones. For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod. And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the LORD shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it. For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.
Then he'll give rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the bread from the crop of the land will be rich and plentiful. On that day your cattle will graze in wide pastures.
Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.
The oxen and the young donkeys that work the ground will eat seasoned fodder, winnowed with shovel and fork.
The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.
And on every high mountain and every high hill there'll be streams running with water, on the day of the great slaughter when the towers fall.
And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.
And the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times over, like the light of seven days, on the day the LORD binds up his people's fracture and heals the wound he struck.
And the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times over, like the light of seven days, on the day the Lord binds up his people's fracture and heals the wound he struck.
Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.
Look: the name of the LORD comes from far off, burning with his anger, heavy with smoke. His lips are full of fury and his tongue is a devouring fire.
Look — the name of the Lord comes from far off, burning with his anger, heavy with smoke. His lips are full of fury and his tongue is a devouring fire.
Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:
His breath is like a river in flood, rising up to the neck, to sift the nations in the sieve of destruction, and a bridle in the jaws of the peoples that leads them astray.
And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.
You'll have a song like the night when a festival is kept, and gladness in your heart like a man walking to the sound of the pipe to go to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.
You'll have a song like the night when a festival is kept, and gladness in your heart like a man walking to the sound of the pipe to go to the mountain of the Lord, to the Rock of Israel.
Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel.
And the LORD will make his glorious voice heard and show his arm coming down, in the fury of his anger and the flame of a devouring fire, with cloudburst and storm and hailstones.
And the Lord will make his glorious voice heard and show his arm coming down, in the fury of his anger and the flame of a devouring fire, with cloudburst and storm and hailstones.
And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.
Because at the voice of the LORD the Assyrian will be broken — he'll be struck with the rod.
Because at the voice of the Lord the Assyrian will be broken — he'll be struck with the rod.
For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod.
And every stroke of the staff of punishment the LORD lays on him will be to the sound of tambourines and harps, and he'll fight them with the swing of his arm.
And every stroke of the staff of punishment the Lord lays on him will be to the sound of tambourines and harps, and he'll fight them with the swing of his arm.
And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the LORD shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it.
Because Topheth was set up long ago — yes, it's been made ready for the king. He's made its fire pit deep and wide, with fire and much wood, and the breath of the LORD like a river of burning sulphur setting it alight.
Because Topheth was set up long ago — yes, it's been made ready for the king. He's made its fire pit deep and wide, with fire and plenty of wood, and the breath of the Lord like a river of burning sulphur setting it alight.
For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.